Patriotic badge : Mrs W M Waters

Gilded metal and enamel patriotic badge. The badge is edged by a gilt wreath with blue enamel boomerangs at the top and bottom with the words 'FOR KING & EMPIRE' and 'AUSTRALIA'S SONS'. In the centre is an enamel map of Australia with crossed British and Australian flags and below this is a scroll with the word 'MIZPAH'. There is a pin fastening on the reverse.

This patriotic badge was worn by Mrs Winifred Mabel Waters, wife of 4542 Private Johny Waters who died in France in 1917. Born in Cornwall, England, Private Waters migrated to Australia with his family at the age of 4 and settled in South Australia. As a 23 year old motor driver he enlisted with 27 Battalion on 20 December 1915. He embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT Shropshire on 23 March 1916 and proceeded to join his unit in France in December. On 27 February 1917 during the German withdrawal to the new Hindenburg Line defences, Waters was wounded in action. He had been fighting at Malt Trench, between Warlencourt and le Barque in France and received a severe gun shot wound to the head which fractured his skull. He was admitted to 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital but later died of his wounds on 7 March. He is buried at Doullens Communal Cemetery, France. In 1922 Mrs Waters married a returned soldier, 1452 Driver Richard Trendall.